Seniors treated to free lunch through Winsted church program

From left, Vinnie and Linda DiBerardino, Frances Dauschere, Ann Brochu and Marguerite Zaccarra are part of the committee that organizes luncheons for senior citizens through St. Joseph Church.

From left, Vinnie and Linda DiBerardino, Frances Dauschere, Ann Brochu and Marguerite Zaccarra are part of the committee that organizes luncheons for senior citizens through St. Joseph Church.

Photo: Manon L. Mirabelli — The Register Citizen

Photo: Manon L. Mirabelli — The Register Citizen

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

From left, Vinnie and Linda DiBerardino, Frances Dauschere, Ann Brochu and Marguerite Zaccarra are part of the committee that organizes luncheons for senior citizens through St. Joseph Church.

From left, Vinnie and Linda DiBerardino, Frances Dauschere, Ann Brochu and Marguerite Zaccarra are part of the committee that organizes luncheons for senior citizens through St. Joseph Church.

Photo: Manon L. Mirabelli — The Register Citizen

Seniors treated to free lunch through Winsted church program

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

WINSTED >> Eighty senior citizens were treated to a luncheon Thursday at the Franciscan Center where they enjoyed a home-cooked meal, entertainment and each other’s company.

The luncheon, sponsored by St. Joseph Church, is an opportunity for parish seniors to socialize and spend an afternoon among friends and clergy, one organizer said.

Linda DiBerardino said the luncheon, which featured a full dinner menu prepared by Phyllis Wells, former director of the Winsted Public Schools lunch program, is offered to local seniors three times a year. In addition to the option of dining among friends at the Franciscan Center, meals are also delivered to those who cannot attend.

“They really look forward to these events to see one another and socialize with Fr. Ron (Gliatta, pastor of St. Joseph Church),” she said. “They get to sit and talk and visit.”

In all, 80 chicken Marsala dinners were served at the parish center Thursday, another 60 meals were taken out and 20 were delivered to in-town elderly members of the community who are not able to leave their homes.

The 10-person committee charged with organizing the event oversees the menu, cooking, delivery of meals and even provides transportation for those in need, DiBerardino said.

“We’ve been doing this for several years, and each year it has grown,” she added. “There is quite a bit of planning involved to make sure everyone’s needs are covered.”

DiBerardino credited much of the program’s success to Wells’ cooking skills and her ability to prepare whatever menu items the committee agrees upon whether it is shepherd’s pie, lasagna, roast beef or a turkey dinner.

“Phyllis cooks anything we want,” she said. “I don’t know what we would do without her.”

Thursday’s luncheon also featured entertainment by Brian Mattiellio, who brought his humor to the hall as the seniors were finishing their meals.

Ann Brochu, a kitchen volunteer, said she enjoys being part of the lunch and seeing the happiness it brings to the parish’s elderly population.

“I love doing this,” she said. “It’s so great to see the smiles of the older people. It’s our way of giving back.”

“That’s it in a nutshell,” agreed Marguerite Zaccara.

The event also featured a raffle, whose $150 proceeds were donated to the youth ministry trip to Poland for World Youth Day, DiBerardino said.

DiBerardino said the event’s costs are defrayed be a grant administered through the Office of Catholic Justice Ministry, Cooperative Parish Sharing Program of the Archdiocese of Hartford.